Simplicity In The Dirt

We can learn from toddlers.  It's been less than a week since Christmas, and Alex shows us again that playing outside in the dirt is more fun than all the toys.  At what point in life do we forget this?

Except for Thomas The Train after sunset.

Nice To Have Family Back

Three weeks away was too long.

Goats in the campground.

Back to the lawn mower days.

Nice to be able to hang outside until sunset.

Short 4x4 trip.

New bean bag loungers.

Lake Pleasant.  Moving to this campground next week.

New Fifth Wheel And Truck!

New Couch

It would be nice to have four or five slide outs and more living space.  That s#%* costs money I don't want to blow.  So I tore out the uncomfortable dinette and the useless couch/bed and threw it in the junk yard.  I spent a few days looking for a couch that would fit in this space but could not find one that would utilize llimited space well, so I went ahead and built this couch/dinette for about $300.  Full storage underneath, table is removable for kid play space, and now we have a comfortable place to stretch out in our living room.

I ran out of steam working on it, but eventually I will have professional cushions made.

BCT-Governor Springs to Hwy 69

Rode about 18 miles of singletrack north from Governor Springs, steadily climbing about 2,500ft to Hwy 69.  The trail continues to Mayer from here, but is apparently overgrown with Cat Claw.

Gentle climbing on a somewhat faint desert trail.

The mountains in the distance are essentially just above Black Canyon City.

Buff single track on pulverized golden granite.

Lone Sugauro cactus living higher than most.

The trail builders did amazing work.

Trail winding off into the oblivion.

Up on the plateau.

Lots of this.  I ride into one, and thankfully the tubeless system worked despite many punctures.

Big ring (2x10) cranking.

Rode to the tunnel under Hwy 69, then rode an awesome 20mph tailwind back to the truck on mostly downhill, super buff dirt roads.  Now I just have the southern section from Table Mesa to New River to finish.

The town of Cordes.

These things fit right in.

Black Canyon Trail Bumble Bee to Gov. Springs

Rode north from the Bumble Bee trailhead and peeled out at Governor Springs, then rode back on the gravel.

This section was twisty and a bit slower going with constant views of the Bradshaw Mtns.

A GPS is a good idea because some of the intersections are pretty elusive.  Keep an eye out for the tiny trail marker posts.

Just north of the tiny hamlet of Bumble Bee the trail buffs out and gets fast.

Climbing into pinion/juniper and prickly pear.

Fun sweeping turns.

Hard to portray how remote it is.

Here's Bumble Bee!

The fast gravel home.

Black Canyon Trail to Bumble Bee

Rode about 17 miles of singletrack north to Bumble Bee, then returned on pavement to close the loop.  Amazing riding.  Nobody around.

This section of the trail to Bumble Bee is somewhat slow and techy, but super enjoyable with a remote feel to it.

There are two or three Agua Fria crossings.

Awesome switchbacks into unlikely terrain.

Recent rains plumped up the modest creek.

Long climb to Bumble Bee.

Views of the Bradshaw Mountains.

Rooftop beer.

Mud in the desert

Two days of rain makes for a unique desert environment.